PARKER CITY, Ind. — Before a practice earlier this week, John Hochstetler walked from his office out to the field. Just a few hours earlier, the Monroe Central head coach found out the Golden Bears were 4-0 thanks to a ruling on a suspended game by the IHSAA.

Hochstetler reflected on how far the program had come in just seven years of existence, the last five of which have been under his guidance. From 1-9 in his first season in 2012, to 6-5, then 7-4, followed by 9-3 last season and now unbeaten and ranked No. 7 in Class 1A.

“It’s a great place to be — completely under the radar, and we want to stay under the radar,” he said. “Let Central go, let all of them go, because this group … this is the group. These are the dudes right here.

“But we haven’t beaten Shenandoah yet in our time here. We’ve got some things to do, but we’ve got the guys. Wes-Del is doing great. … The longer we can stay low (under the radar), it’ll give us some time to get used to all this.”

“This” isn’t entirely new as the Golden Bears began 2014 5-1 and started 7-1 last season. But Hochstetler does have a point: This is his third and final year with an influx of talented Southside transfers, the last remaining high school athletes that donned Rebel black and red. So where do the Golden Bears go from here?

The Golden Bears have become a landing spot for so many — eight of the team's 15 seniors didn't start in Monroe Central's district — and Hochstetler does not try to hide that, as some may think.

After a recent game, Hochstetler told The Star Press, “Everybody always thinks it’s dirty, but the reality is that these people sought Monroe Central, not because of me, but because there’s some momentum. And we’re excited because of that, we’re not ashamed of it. I understand why they think that, because shame on the people who do cheat.”

The Golden Bears are in a great position, like the other undefeated teams in Delaware County: Class 5A No. 10 Muncie Central (4-0) and 1A rival Wes-Del (4-0). Keeping all of this momentum going won’t be easy without the Southside kids, but Hochstetler thinks a strong youth and middle school program will be the key.

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Monroe Central's Nick Mitchell catches a pass against Union County during their game at Monroe Central High School Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. (Photo: Jordan Kartholl/The Star Press)

Hochstetler walked past his players and to a neighboring field where the middle school team was practicing. He pulled a group of players aside all with something in common — Cooper Huffman, Bransen Cope, Jacob Keith, Niklas Smith, Gabriel Hood and Mitchell Moles all go to either Selma Middle School or are home-schooled.

Since junior high football isn’t run by the IHSAA, the kids can attend one school but play for another. Every day they get a ride from Selma over to Monroe Central because there is no football program in Selma or at Wapahani. They wear their Monroe Central jerseys to Selma Middle School on game days.

Before their freshman year, they’ll have a decision, as one of them put it: “You can either go to a new school and play football, the sport that you love, or you can stay at a school where all your friends are and you know everybody. It’s kind of a hard decision.”

Hochstetler understands that not all of them will choose Monroe Central, but it can't hurt to have them playing in the program before they have to make that decision. He said enrollment at Monroe Central, unlike many other schools, is growing (up 50 students this year) and football certainly helps that. The high school football program is up to 48 kids this season, and Hochstetler thinks it will continue to grow because it accepts more kids that grew up outside the district.

“Do you guys come to our games?” Hochstetler asked the players. “You guys need to check this (varsity) group out, you hear me? This group can roll.

“I’m Coach Hochstetler if I haven’t met you. Nice to meet you guys. You’ve been having a good year. I know it was a tough one against Lincoln, but that’s all right. Tough ones make you better.”

Hochstetler turned back to his varsity players. “Hey, jog it up!”

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Monroe Central makes a push for the end zone against Union County during their game at Monroe Central High School Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. (Photo: Jordan Kartholl/The Star Press)

Hochstetler led Central to some of its best seasons. From 2002-05, the Bearcats went 45-6. But Hochstetler left on bad terms after going 7-43 from 2007-11. When Southside became a middle school after the 2013 season, the players had a chance to transfer, and some of them joined Hochstetler in Parker City.

Now Southside transfers Nehemiah Nash, Terry Kuhns, Michael Johnson, Logan Conklin and Zaine Pollard-Kennedy are core members of this Golden Bears squad hoping to win a sectional for the first time in program history. They finished one game short last season.

Even now, Hochstetler still gets questions about the Southside kids.

“It’s always, how’s the Southside kids? I tell them, ‘Great!’” he said with a laugh. “I’ve always thought I would enjoy coaching a Southside kid, and that’s been true. I like their toughness. We always battled with them (while at Central), and now I have the opportunity to join arms with them.”

The seniors went on a canoe trip around Farmland over the summer in order to bond and prepare for the challenges of a season with high expectations. Said Johnson: “That’s the thing we’ll remember through the hard times of the season: Just getting through the canoe trip itself was tough. But we did it together.”

With other key cogs like Wyatt Snyder, Seth Wilson and Casey Conaster coming up the ranks, the momentum will continue to build — at least that’s what Monroe Central hopes — long after this Southside crew has graduated.

“This program has only had a football season for seven or eight years, and this is the best it’s been,” Kuhns said. “We’re looking the best we have, and hopefully this year we can look even better.”